As of tomorrow I will be smoke free

[xmas74]

I have bought some fresh fruit, veggies and cinnamon gum to help me out. And I have only seven cigarettes left in my pack.
My young uncle (only in his forties) had a stroke the other day. He's a heavy smoker, heavy drinker and a big fan of food. I decided that the same will not happen to me. Now's the time to get off of my ass and get rid of this nasty habit.

So everyone please forgive me if I get snarky w/ you in the next few days.

:eyes:

[mike_c]

1. congratulations on a positive life decision, and best of luck!

:toast:

[xmas74]

4. Thank you!

[Midlodemocrat]

2. If you are snarky

with me, I will ban your ass.


Just kidding. Good luck. It is a tough habit to break.

[xmas74]

6. I know.

I had quit smoking the last time for about 2 years. Post 9-11 dispatch shifts (I live next to an air force base) blew the smoke-free lifestyle.
I'm ready to be smoke-free again.

[MissB]

3. Be as snarky as you want.

:applause:

Good luck

[xmas74]

7. Thank you.

[SnowGoose]

5. Good luck!

And don't be too proud to get help if you need it - zyban (in the form of welbutrin) took away my nicotine cravings with almost alarming effectiveness. Doesn't work for everyone though.

Now I'm doing a PhD on the effects of cigarette smoke on the immune system (spoiler alert: it lowers your immunity - think of how happy you'll be when the next flu pandemic comes down the pike).

I think telling people you're quitting helps too... gives you one more reason to want to stick with it.

All the best.

[xmas74]

8. Thanks.

When my uncle had that stroke it made me think about getting healthy again. I don't want my child to be as scared as his children are now.

[NeoConsSuck]

9. I wish you the best!!

it's not going to be easy, but I promise you, it will be worthwhile!

I quit a year ago, and it was the toughest thing I ever did, I just took it a day at a time.

I spent many, many hours at www.quitnet.com

Best of luck!

[xmas74]

11. I've done it once before

and the reason was my daughter (I was pregnant then). This time it will be for my daughter's future.
Thank you for the site.

[Shredr]

10. Congratulations!!!

I quit a year and a half ago. I tried going cold turkey, but it didn't work for me (I was a 2 pack-a-day smoker), the patch didn't work either, but I quit using the gum. I liked the fact that I could still control my nicotine intake and pop a piece of gum when I needed it. I weaned myself off the gum in 3 months.

Life feels and smells and TASTES so much better now that I'm smoke-free.

[xmas74]

12. The last time I quit I found out I couldn't use the patch

(reaction to the patch itself) and gum didn't work for me. The best thing was lots of cherries, grapes, carrots, cinnamon gum and bottled water.
That's how I will try it this time also.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. Good for you!

You have my permission to be as snarky as you want with me, you have a free pass until you get past your withdrawal. :)

[xmas74]

14. Last time I quit day four was my absolute worst.

I thought that I could have killed someone then.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. I was the same way

By day 6 I was feeling pretty good. The important thing is to avoid situations that normally make you want to smoke.

[xmas74]

18. Work is the number one

and I have to go back on Friday. I'm bringing extra gum that night.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

21. Gum is a good idea

Have you ever tried the rubber band thing? It didn't work for me but my sister did quit that way.

[xmas74]

25. I've never done that

but I've done straws. You cut a straw down to the size of your cigarette. Every time you have a craving you get out the straw and inhale on it like you would when you are smoking. You still feel like you're inhaling and you have something in your hands like you would if you were smoking.
Looks dorky but it did work.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

30. LOL!

This made me laugh. Back in the 70's they would have thought you were a coke head!

[xmas74]

32. I got pulled over the last time I quit.

They saw the straw and wanted to check it (I know that it was for residue). I gave it to him and explained why. When he didn't find any residue he told me that it was actually a good idea and he was going to tell his wife about it(seems she was a heavy smoker at that time).

[Lone_Star_Dem]

33. Oh my goodness!

I wonder if his wife tied it, if she did, did she get pulled over, too? :crazy:

[xmas74]

36. you've got to wonder.

But he did think it was a really good idea.
I got pulled over because a car that looked something like mine was used in a crime(common car at that time) and they were looking for it. He wanted to look at the straw for other reasons.

[Green Mountain Dem]

15. Would you mind.....

If I joined you?? Just opened my 2nd pack for today but ready to stop tomorrow!! My biggest problem is that my wife also smokes so it has always been difficult for me to get motivated, although like you, I quit for 2yrs too! My wife has been in Portland, OR since Sunday and I just talked with her and SHE IS READY TOO!! She has had 5 cigs since Mon so she is already doin great. Wishin you the best of luck and LET'S GET ER DONE !!

[xmas74]

17. Sure!

I'll add you to my buddy list and you do the same for me. Whenever we need some encouragement we can send each other pm's!
The more the merrier.

[Green Mountain Dem]

19. done.....

Let the games begin...ya might be hearing a lot from me!! BTW I'm Ron and better half is Linda.

[xmas74]

23. Beni.

And it ought to get interesting really fast!

[Wapsie B]

20. Congratulations!

That's great that you're doing that. One of the best things you can do for your health. :thumbsup:

:bounce:

[xmas74]

22. I know but I'm still dreading it at the same time.

[Wapsie B]

35. You can do it.

Addictions are hard to break. I'm slowly coming to terms with the one I have for food. And with the exercise addiction I'm developing things are coming under control. You can beat this.

[xmas74]

37. I'm going to try.

[Wapsie B]

40. There may be times that you backslide,

then again maybe not. Just keep your eyes on the prize.

[xmas74]

43. I'll be ok.

[sundog]

24. stay away from knives & sharp objects

[xmas74]

27. I'll try.

Might be an interesting time in my house for a few days.

[Kire]

26. famous last words

"as of tomorrow..." to boot

[Orsino]

28. "I'm gonna kick tomorrow."

Seriously, good luck to the original poster. Live long and prosper and stuff.

[xmas74]

31. Thank you.

I explained why I'm waiting for tomorrow (I buy cartons so I counted off exactly how many days I had until the carton ran out. I'm on the last pack right now).
When someone young has a stroke it makes you think.

[xmas74]

29. I'm only waiting until tomorrow

because I am a carton smoker. I counted out how many packs I had the day my uncle had his stroke (a few days ago) and decided that when the carton was gone I would be done. Before I go to bed tonight I will throw away the last ashtray and lighter (I got rid of the rest a couple of days ago). I'm actually going to a dumpster at a business down the street to throw them away tonight instead of keeping them anywhere near me. And I have made myself step outside since I found out about him to smoke each cigarette (so that the house wouldn't smell smoky when I quit. I kept an ashtray by the door). I've also put in a big supply of fruit and veggies to snack on, along w/ cinnamon gum and straws (to puff on when I want a smoke).
I've done it once before and quit for two years. I know that I can do it again.

[mcar]

34. Good luck

You can do it. I did (22 years ago). It was hard but I decided I was not going to let this stupid stick rule my life.

Exercise helps -- it really does.

[xmas74]

38. Next week I will add walking to it.

The first few days will just be adjusting to not reaching for my pack!

[Scout1071]

39. You can do it xmas74! Today is my 17th smoke free day.

If I can do it, anyone can!

[xmas74]

44. Thank you!

And congrats to you!

[Telly Savalas]

41. You might wanna stay out of GD for a couple of weeks.

:-)

And don't watch the news on TV if you find the voice of the ex-governor Texas to be half as annoying as I do.

Good luck! You should do fine. Having done it before, you have a lot of experience to draw on. Start thinking about all the cool stuff you can buy with the extra money! Cheers.

[xmas74]

45. I can actually buy something for myself w/ the money I save.

Right now, everything except for the cig money goes to my daughter. I might have to buy a new top or pair of pants w/ some of the money that I save.

[caty]

42. I quit 6 weeks ago.

If weak willed me can do it---you can. I had to quit because of a health problem. Quit now because you want to, not because you no longer have a choice.:toast:

[xmas74]

46. Congrats to you!

I'm quitting because of a relative's health scare. I won't let my daughter go through what his kids are going through.

[caty]

47. Good for you.

Your daughter will be so proud of you and the example you are setting for her.:applause:

[Misunderestimator]

48. Good for you! 4 weeks today for me.

It does get easier! And it's so nice to breathe.

[xmas74]

49. That's what I'm hoping for!

I think my workouts will be much easier on me if I can breathe normally again. Too much stress on my lungs.

And congratulations to you! They say that if you do something for six weeks it becomes a habit. So by that reasoning, you are almost to the point where smoking is no longer a habit.

[tibbir]

50. Good luck and best wishes.

As a reformed smoker I can tell you it was the hardest thing I've ever done (next to having my son) but it was also the second most important thing I've ever accomplished.

I found that everything my ex-husband (whom I adored at the time) said made me want to divorce him or at least sock him one. After about 2 weeks most of that subsided some.

Just keep writing DU and let everyone support you in your effort.

[xmas74]

51. Thank you!

[Mizmoon]

52. Good for you!

I'm going on 9 months smoke-free I do miss smoking sometimes, but I don't miss worrying about dying of a horrible disease.

[xmas74]

55. That's one of my motivations.

[KitchenWitch]

53. Snark away!

Best wishes! You can do it....

[xmas74]

56. I hope so.

I've done it once. This time I want it to stick permanently.

[bigwillq]

54. Good luck.

:hi:

[xmas74]

57. Thank you.

:hi:

[redqueen]

58. You're forgiven in advance...

:pals:

Kudos to you for kicking the habit!

[xmas74]

59. Thank you.

I started the kick this morning. I woke up at 5 and haven't had one yet (it's 11:30 now). Still a long few days to go.